-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After the vote in the House of Representatives to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , I wrote a column against cutting food stamps . This column generated more than 5,200 online comments and hundreds of e-mails .

Comments reflected , not surprisingly , the tone and tenor of the political debate : a lot of partisan passion , some mutual understanding , animosity based on stereotypes and a lot of misinformation .

I would like to address some of the typical concerns that were expressed .

For example , `` Willis CurryFans '' wrote , `` These wealthy Republicans spend a lot of time RUNNING from the typical black person this affects . If they came and visited some of these neighborhoods , they would see folks that they KNOW they wo n't give a job to . ''

But who are the people using food stamps ? They 're us .

The Census Bureau , which gathers statistics house by house , reports that Americans on food stamps are 49 % white , 26 % African-American and 20 % Hispanic . The Pew Research Center , a nonprofit polling firm , found in a July survey that self-identified liberals , moderates and conservatives who receive food stamps are in a statistical tie .

A lot of people who commented on the column wanted to regulate what foodstuffs program participants can buy -- often not realizing that alcohol and prepared foods are banned . And many respondents bashed food stamp recipients , declaring they should `` get a job , '' `` stop having kids on my dime '' or giving a variation on such cliches .

`` Chiefpr '' writes to one reader who 's been out of work : `` Get training to better yourself and DO NOT have kids until you can feed them . But do not demand I do all that and support you ... ''

But the truth refutes the cliches : Feeding America says participation in SNAP , or the food stamp program , `` historically follows unemployment with a slight lag . ''

Unemployment increases food stamp rolls , not people with children who go looking for aid .

And unemployment has been abnormally high because of the recession that began under the previous president . In fact , USA Today found that `` under President George W. Bush , the number of recipients rose by nearly 14.7 million . Nothing before comes close to that . ''

With employment increasing , `` the Congressional Budget Offices projects SNAP participation to begin declining in 2015 . ''

Shaun Kirkpatrick commented : `` There was a work requirement for welfare . Bill Clinton did that during his welfare reform that most working people applauded . To make sure he got the votes and make Republicans look greedy and evil , Obama removed the work requirement ... '' Kirkpatrick 's perception is prevalent on the Web .

But that information comes from a 2012 Mitt Romney political ad that got it dead wrong . Obama actually encouraged the states to strengthen their work requirements . Also , of course , welfare is not the same as food stamps .

As for food stamps , more than 72 % of all SNAP beneficiaries are families with children . Most of the recipients are children -LRB- 48 % -RRB- , the elderly -LRB- 8 % -RRB- and the disabled . Less than 10 % of food stamp recipients receive welfare payments .

`` John in WNY '' wrote , `` Yes , many do work , but many of them make sure they never make enough to lose their benefits ... ''

Again , the facts refute the assumption .

SNAP has strict time limits for unemployed workers : Able-bodied adults without children can only get three months worth of food stamps in a three-year period , unless working in a qualifying job training program .

And how much are the benefits , anyway ?

The average monthly SNAP benefit per person is $ 133.85 , or less than $ 1.50 per person per meal . Those benefits are low , and for many families , SNAP benefits do n't last the whole month .

Why do we need to support the food stamp program ?

Because low-income families experience unemployment at a far higher rate than other income groups . Because cutting nutritional assistance programs is immoral and shortsighted and protecting families from hunger improves their health and educational outcomes . Food stamps are an investment in our future .

Being on food stamps can be demeaning .

Cashiers know the difference between the new plastic SNAP cards and a credit card . Some food stamp recipients say some cashiers have made them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed .

Maybe we should focus on rewards rather than punishments . Behavioral psychologists say that 's more effective .

Why not add benefits for making healthy food choices , provide a transition bonus for getting off food stamps or increase job training opportunities and income -- raising minimum wage ?

Doing so takes courage , compassion and believing in `` We , the people . ''

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile .

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Donna Brazile says her column on food stamps got tons of comments , many misinformed

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Brazile : Recipients are 49 % white , 26 % black , 20 % Hispanic ; conservative and liberal

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Joblessness fuels food stamp use , she says ; most funds go to children and elderly

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Brazile : We need compassion , courage to improve program with incentives , job training